500 Ganesh idol artisans left in lurch

PANJIM, OCT 18
Around 500-odd artisans expecting government subsidy for preparing clay Ganesh idols in the state were left at lurch as the scheme could not be implemented due to financial constraint this year.
Officials stated that the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation’s (GHRSSIDC) could not implement its revised scheme, this year due to financial constraints as the file seeking additional funds for this scheme is gathering dust in Secretariat.
As per the revised scheme, the artisans were to be paid for the maximum 250 idols as against the earlier ceiling of 150. The subsidy of Rs 100 each was to be paid for these artisans through Handicraft Corporation.
This government initiative had begun during BJP regime when corporation decided to curb increasing presence of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols which are not environment friendly.
The scheme was supposed to be enhanced from this year onwards. But bureaucratic hurdles have rigged it.
However, as the government failed to approve the scheme, the artisans would be now paid as per the old scheme that is Rs 100 each for maximum 150 idols.
Sources stated that it’s been long since the file is pending with the Industries secretary. “We recently came to know that finance department has been asked to study the proposal,” sources stated.
This year, there is almost 10 per cent rise in the number of applications for this scheme. Officials stated that maximum numbers of artisans are from Pernem and Bicholim taluka.
Statistics revealed that 143 artisans from Pernem and 120 from Bicholim have been approved for the subsidy. They are followed by Ponda (70), Sattari (55), Bardez (52) and Canacona (26).
As per the old scheme, the corporation, this year will have to distribute Rs 46 lakh to various artisans in form of subsidy.
Last year the corporation paid Rs 41 lakh to the artisans as against Rs 36 lakhs in 2008.
Sources said that Rs 50 lakh budget had been announced by the state government as a subsidy to the artisans for 2010.
“If government now decides to revise the scheme, then the corporation will have to pay additional around Rs 25 lakh, from its own coffers,” sources added.
The fate of these artisans would be now decided only during the Appraisal Committee meeting, which is likely to take place next month. The meeting will be chaired by Industries secretary, which will be also attended by GHRSSIDC chairman Sameer Salgaoncar and GHRSSIDC director Nikhil Desai.
Meanwhile, the artisans have expressed unhappiness over the GHRSSIDC decision of sticking back to their earlier scheme.
“The corporation’s decision is not acceptable to us. We will be under severe loss if they don’t pay as per the new scheme. I have already suffered huge loss as more then 50 idols remained unsold,” Mayem-based artisan Sadanand Shet said.
Shet had prepared nearly 165 clay idols of which only 110 were sold as most of the people from their locality preferred to buy it from outside Goa. 
“This is a double loss to me. There was some hope that I will get Rs 100 after each idol including those which are still lying in my backyard,” he added.
Supporting him, artisan from Ponda, Sanjay Shetkar said, “most of the artisans in Ponda went for more than 150 idols as the scheme gave them freedom to avail for new subsidy for maximum 250 idols.”